Sheet feeder



. 6 Sheets-Sheet l Hf HL A fro/Mfr H. EHLIG Dac, 9, 1930.

SHEET FEEDER 'Filed May 29, 1925 4 H. EH LlG SHEET FEEDER Dec. 9, 1930.

V Filed `May 29, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY H. EHLlcs SHEET FEEDERFiled May 29, 1923 IN VEN TOR H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER Filed May 29, 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTOH/VEY Dec. 9, 1930. v H, EHLlG 1,783,962

SHEET FEEDER Filed .May 29, 19215v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Harry 77ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1930; H.EHL|G SHEET FEEDER Filed May 29, 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 6- 0 mu Raf 04] Mh ...N 14 rV55 a n mw fm L r in m 1 V'. B2J 7 1 l 5 www 1 n w w i ilwill 4 9 u 1 M 4 M'. 4 IMHO MM 4Al/ All 7 2 5w t@ a@ f w .4l .77. 1" IM 2 wl mf@ 4v 1 0 1 7 0 10 H 1 IIb/0 6 wY 0 lI6' l W, .5 Hrw 1 Q, 1 1 e G 7 7 A TTORNE Y 1. d' Yariably separate andcontinuously feed or 20 rapidity.

Parental Dec'. 9,l 193e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY EHLIG,OF PERLRIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY HESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

To DEXTER FOLDEBCOMPANY, oF'NEW YORK YORK, N. Y., .A vCORPORATION F NEWSHEET FEEDER.

application mea :my 29, laas. serial 1ra-642,189.

5 ing, folding or ruling machines, or to such other types of machines asare devised to operate thereafter on such sheets.

The objects of my invention are, amongV other things, mainly to providea sheet-feeder of ythis 'character having a'simpliiied design which willhave embodiedl therein separate mechanisms capable of performingefficient work, while they are not likely to get out of order, yet arevery sensitive in action, all being incorporated in a feeder whichlwillinadvance the successive sheets, ,preferably from a fanned-out bank ofpaper on the feedboard, both automatically and. with great With this aimyin view I have devised a front-edge feeder ewhich will separatev andadvance the successive sheets by mechanism or devices operating on thefront edges or margins of the stacked-up, sheets, the sheet forwardingmechanisms for the bank of sheets being controlled by the steady andcontinuous advance of the front margins of the pile or bank of papersupported on the feed-board beneath the feeding-off devices.

A further feature of my ,invention is to embody in the feeder a noveland improved form of suction feeding-olf device .which is usuallyarranged in pairs across the feeder forsuccessively separating andfeedin the sheets forwardly, the operation of eac v set being controlledb a separate cut-out or trip linger located between the usual feed-rolls' which finger not only limits-the forward 40 movement oftheparticular suction feedingoi device but also cuts off the suctionfromsuch device at a predetermined point to release the advancing sheet.Each suction device operates independently of the other so as tostraighten'the leading 'edge of the advanced sheet as it is seized bythe feed-rolls.

Another feature is to provide a novel and simplified pile detectormechanism which operates in conjunction with means for smoothing out thefront'y margins of the successive sheets as they are fed forwardly,which will also operate independently of the suction feeding-oi'devices,and also independently of the number of timing of the sheets advancedthereby, so as to inaugurate and control the actionof the bank feed orpile feed mechanism by vwhich the sheets of paper may be advanced andmaintained at the proper thickness beneath the suction feeding-offdevices operating on the front margins of the sheets, all through thecontinued operation of the sheet-feeder itself.-

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form ofadjustable tail clamp and pile drag which may be set at differentpositions to ,bear on the rear margins of the fanned-out sheets ofdifferent sizes, and is constructed and arranged above the feedtable torest on the rear margin of the top sheet of the bank at the beginning ofthe feed and then upon the rear margin of the second subjacent sheet.Such devices are so constructed and arranged as to be self-adj usting asto thethickness of the bank, and have embodied therewith air-blastdevices impinging onthe rear edges of the fanned-out top sheets whichserve to inject the desirable air films between the sheets to aid intheir separation transversely along their rear margins;

ing parts are greatly simplified in form, ar-

rangement and "interaction, and are made more effect-ive and otherwisebetter adapted for use, all of which will be hereinafter described andt-hen particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings show my improvements in theirpreferredembodiment in a continuous sheet-feeder; such improvements, however, arenot to be restricted to any particular type of sheet-feeder, as dthesefeatures of invention may be embodied in various forms of feeders withsimilar advantages and results.

e Of the drawings, Fig. 1- is a side elevation looking from the left inFig. 2, certain parts being omitted, but showing a side view oi thecombined tail clamp and pile drag resting n the bank of sheets supportedon "the feed-board;

Fig. 2 is affront elevation vof'thefeeder with the central parts brokenaway;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line i 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrow; J

F1g. 4 1s a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

aoA

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line5-5 of Fig. 3

looking in the direct-ion of the arrow;

the two side-frames 7 and 8 of the feeder proper `are supported upon thestandards 9 and 10 respectively; between the side-frames 7 and 8 andsuitably secured thereto is the lower feed-board 11 over which travel aseries.

of feedbelts'12 to advance the fanned-out bank of sheets 1 3 along thefeed-board 11. The belts 12 (two being'shown in Fig. 2) pass around thedrum 14 mounted on the transverse shaft 15 journalled in suitablebearings in the frames 7 and 8. The shaft 15 carries the ratchet 16 bywhich the feed-belts 12 are intermittently advanced overl the feed-board11 to carry the bank of fanned-out sheets 13 to the sheet separating andfeeding-off devices arranged across the front edge of the feed-.board11.

` In the present embodiment of my feeder,

.the sheet separating and advancing devices are duplicated upon eitherside -of the machine, and a description of one set of such devices willtherefore suffice, as both sets are built and operate alike. Referrmgmore par- 65 ticularly to-Figs. 2, 3 and 5, thev carriage plate 17 isadjustably secured to the tie-shaft 18 by the split-collar 19 andclamping bolt 20 so that the carriage 17 may be transversely shifted inthe feeder t accommodate sheets of different widths. The upper bracket21 of the carriage 17 carries the collar 22 within which is '.journalledthe main cam-shaft 23 which extends across the feeder and is suitablysupported in bearings in the side-frames 7 and 8 as shown in Fig. 2.This shaft 23 has secured thereto the gea-r 24 which engages the pinion25 mounted on the stub-shaft 26 journalled in the side-frame 7, theshaft 26 also carrying the gear 27 enmeshing with the idler gear 28which is driven by the pinion 29 fast to the main power shaft 30 whichis suitably journalled in t-he side-frames 7 and 8, the arrowsshown inFig. 3 indicating the respective directions of revolution of the severalgears to rotate the cam-shaft 23 in a clockwise direction. l

Extending across the feeder and suitably journalled in the side-frames 7and l8 is the rock-shaft 31 to which is slidably secured the sleeve 32by the key 33 to rock with the shaftv 31. Loosely secured on one end ofthe sleeve 32 and rotatably mounted in the carriage 17 is theoscillating suction feed-sector 34, and surrounding the sleeve 32 is thecoil spring 35, one end of which is fastened to the collar 36 pinned tothe sleeve 32 and the other end is yfixed to the pin 37 on thefeed-sector 34 as shown in Fig. 2. The tension of the spring normallyforces the sector 34 forwardly. The segmental rim 38 of the feed-sector34 carries the spaced-apart perforations 39 preferably arranged instaggered relation as shown in Fig. 2; the suction mouthpiece 40 withits nozzle 41 bears on the inner face of the perforated rim 38, and isheld in position by the hollow arm 42 attached to the transverse suctiontube 43 secured'in the side-frames 7 and 8. The nozzle 41 is arranged toregister intermittently with the successive perforations 39 in thefeed-sector 34`as the latter swings forwardly. The required suction tooperate the feed-sector 34 is applied to the tube 43 by any suitableair.- exhausting means not shown. The sheets from the bank 13 adhere tothe exterior surface of the rim 38 opposite the nozzle 41 as shown inFig. 3, and are separated and advanced to the bite of the lowerfeed-rolls 44 and coacting upper feed rolls 45.

The 4feed-rolls 44 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 30,1while'thefeed-rolls 45 are-se-l.

cured to the crossshaft 46 journalled on the arms 47 of the bell-cranklever '48 pivotally mounted yto the cross shaft 49 journalled in theside-frames 7 and 8; the upperarm 50 of the lever 48 carries thecam-roller 51 which rides on the cam 52 mounted on the camshaft 23. Thecoil spring 53 pinned to the arm 47 and to the side frame 7 causes theupper feed rolls to contact with the driven lower feed-rolls 44 in timedrelation to seize the leading edge *of the sheet when the camroller 51enters the drop of the cam 52, the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 showingthe roll 45 in raised position with the cam roller 51 riding on thedwell of the cam 52.

The' rock-shaft 31 is intermittently oscillated forwardly to rock thesleeve 32 and -release-the feed-sector 34 held under tension of thespring 35 to Aadvance the adhering sheet in proximity to the bite of thefeedrolls 44 -and 4,5 by the followingdescribed mechanismz The shaft 31carries the arm 54 connected by the link 55 with Ythe arm 56 of thebell-crank lever 57'rotatably mount-ed on the shaft 15.'A Pivotallyconnected to the lever 57 is the link 58 carrying on its end thecam-roller 59 to engage the cam 60 xed to the cam-shaft 23. -The link 58is formed with the intermediate slot 61 through which passes the shaft23 to support link 58' on the shaft 23, and permit its movement by thecam 60. Secured to the lever 57 is the arm 62 which is normally forcedupwardly by the compression spring 63 (Figs. 2 and" 3) to hold thecam-roller 59 in engagementJ with the cam 60 which releases thefeed-sector 34 to swing 4forwardly when the roller 59 descends into thedrop of the cam 60, and retracts the sector 34 and places the spring 35under tension as the roller 59 rides up on thedwell of the cam 60. Therelative positions of the cams 52 and 60 are such that as the sector 34isending its forward stroke thefeed roll 45 is lowered into contact withthe feed-roll 44 to seize the leading edge of the sheet whichhas beenseparated `and f ed forwardly by the sector 34.

Means are provided to arrest the forward strokeof the feed-sector 34 andlikewise to shut off the suction from the nozzle 41 immediately upon theseizure of the sheet by the feed-rolls 44 and 45, which mechanism may bewidely varied in structure and operation. In the present embodiment thellower bracket 64 of the carriage 17 carries the screw-pin 65 which inturn supports the cutout or trip finger 66, the forward end being forkedwith the tips 67 riding parallel grooves' 68 `formed in the underlyingfeedroll 44 as shown in- Figs. 2 and 5. The finger 66 is screwed to thesupporting plate 69 carried by the collar 70 pivotally mounted on thepin 65 as shown inFigs. 3 and 5; projecting rearwardly from the collar70 is the latch-arm 71 with its triangular-shapedrtip 72 held adjustablyby the light spring 73in engagement with the lower arm 74 of the pawl 75pivoted on the hub 76 fast in the bracket 64. The coil-spring 77 securedto the arm 74 and the carriagel 17 normally pulls the arm'74,v whenreleased from the latch-arm 71. to the right in Fig. 3 to lift the pawl75 into engagement with the segmental rack 78 afiix'ed by screws to thefeed-sector 34. By this mechanism the forwardfswing of the feed-sectoris arrested and immediatelyv ceases when the advanced sheet through thetrip'inger 66 releases the pawl 75 to engage the teeth of the rack 78,while the rockshaft/31 and sleeve 32 complete the forward oscillation asthe cam-rollerI 59 follows the drop in the cam 60. and the finger 66 isslightly raised from the sheet.

Referring to Figs. 23 and 5, the sleeve 32 carries at one end the curvedrock-arm 79 projecting downwardly and forwardly from the shaft 31, andalsothe rock-arm 80 extending rearwardly as shown particularly in Fig.3. Thearm 79 carries the lug 81 on the outside and adjustably supportsthe screw-threaded `stop-pin 82 which engages with the projection 83carried by the hub 76. Then this arm 79 is rocke in an anti-clockwisedirection as the cam-roller 59 rides out ,of the drop of the cam 60, thepawl 7 5v is thereby disengaged from the rack 7 8, and the arm '7 4 isswung forwardly overthe tip 72 of the latch-arm 71 against the tensionof the spring 77 to reset thel latch-arm 71 vas shown Iopened and/closedby the swinging valve plate 85 integral with the sleeve 86 pivotallymounted on the screw-pin 87 secured to the bracket 88 formed on the topof the mouthpiece 40 a-s shown in Fig. 5. Secured to the sleeve 86 arethe arms '89 and 90, the arm 89 devised to contact with the adjustablescrew pin 91 threaded in the bracket 92 mounted on the rck-arm 79, whilethe arm 90 is arranged to coact with the adjustable, screwpin, 93threaded -in theI end of the rock-arm 80. When the forward 4movement ofthe feed-sector 34 is arrested by the pawl 75 engaging'the teeth of therack 78, the pin 93 having been properlyv adjusted in the rockarm `80thereafter engages the arm 90 to swing thevalve-plate 85 which opens theport 84 to atmosphere and cuts off the suction from thev mouth-piece 40and nozzle 41 and releases the sheet adhering to the rim 38. In

like manner the port 84 is closed by the valve 85 and suction pressureagain maintained in the mouthplece 40 when the rock-arm 79 A1soscillated in'a clockwise direction so that the. pin 91 engages the arm89 to swing the valve' the pawl 75 engaging the rack 78, and the port 84is closed when the sectorI 34'is being retracted as the sleeve 32 isoscillated as the roller 59 rides out lof ,the drop of the lcam 60. Bythese mechanisms the release of the advanced sheet from the feed-sector34 is synchronized with the arrest of its forward movement by the pawl75 restricting vthe swing of the feed-sector 34, the operation of thismechanism being controlled by the releasing of the latch members 71 and72 when the leading edge of the advanced sheet raises the trip finger66, all during' the. continued operation of the feeder.

The front edges of thesheets comprising the bank 13 are kept separatedbyl a blast of air from the nozzle 94 mounted on the pipe 95 connectedwith any suitable air pump not shown; the sheets then pass overthe'guide plates 96 (Figs. 3 and 4) mounted on the tie rod 97, theplates 96 having Icurved extensions 98 upon which the front margins ofthe sheets rest (Fig. 3) at the forward end of the feed-board 11.

The. detector mechanism dwhich controls and inaugurates the action ofthe bank feed independently of the successive feeding movements of theoscillating feed-sector 34 in advancing the sheets from the bank 13 isarm 104 of the lever 102 carries the cam-- roller 105 held in engagementwith the cam best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Such mechanismcomprises thedetector finger 99 suitably mounted in the sleeve bracket 100 pivoted tothe pin 101 secured to the end of the rock-lever 102 mounted on thestub-shaft103 aiiixed to the side-frame 8 (Fig. 4). LThe 106 on thecam-shaft 23 by the expansion (spring 105a coiled about the rod 105bpinned to lever 102. When the roller 105 rides on the dwell of the cam106 in the position shown in Fig. 4, the finger 99 is retracted rwithits tip raised slightly above the to`p sheet by the hub`100 engaging therounded projection 107 of the forked rock-shoe 108 pivoted on the shaft109 secured to the sideframe 8 (Fig. '2); when thecam-roller 105 fallsinto the drop of the cam 106, the finger 99 is moved forwardly over thetop surface of the sheets, and the rock-shoe is lowered on the frontmargins to 'smooth out as well as tof hold the-front margins of thesheets lightly in position, since the adjustable screw-pin 110 threadedin the lug 111 integral with the shoe 108 follows the lever arm 102until such lug-111 engages the stoppin 112. In like mannerthe backward'swing ofthe arm 102 when the roller 105 rides out of the drop, of thecam 106 raises the Ashoe 108 to the jposition shown inFig.-4,

' of the latch-lever 115 pivoted to the stub shaft 116 secured to theside-frame 8 (Fig. 2). The upper face 117 of the arm is flat '4 by twosheets)l which prevent the finger 99 from entering the notch 118. Thearm 114 is returned to its Vertical position '(Fig.

4) by the force of the spring 119 coiled about the rod 120 pinned to thearm 114, theI outer end of the rod 120 passing slidably through thebracket 121secured to the frame 8, the spring 119 being held undercompression by the threaded collar 122 screwed on the rod 120. Securedtothe shaft 116 is the' laterally-extending latch-arm 123, having theshoulder 124 cut therein to engage with the triangularly-shaped block125 pinned to the end of the lower arm 126 of tle bell crank lever 127rotatably mounted on the shaft 15. The short arm 128 carries the springpressed pawl 129 which coacts with the ratchet' 16 fast on the shaft 15,while the' longer arm 130 of the lever 127 carries thecam-roller `131 toengage the cam 132 secured -to the shaft 23. Depending from xthe pin 133on the arm 130 is the rod 134 which slides through a hole in the bracket135 secured to the frame 8; between they bracket 135 and thecollar 136adjustably secured to the rod 134 is the expansion spring 137 coiledabout the rod 134. Fig. 4 shows the position of the vpawl 129 when thecam-roller 131 is riding upon the dwell of the cam 132 with the spring137 under compression. When the sheets in the bank 13 become depleted sothat the front edges of the top sheets fail to cover the notch 118, thedetector finger 99 enters and engages this notch on its forward strokeand thereby swings the arm 114 to theleft which releases the latch arm`123 from the block 125; this release of the latching members allows thearm 1264 to swing to the left when the cantirller 131 arrives at thedrop of the cam 132 through the force of the spring 137.

pa-w1 129 over several teeth of the ratchet 16, and when the cam-roller131 rides out of the drop of the cam 132, the ratchet 16 is rotated inan anti-clockwise direction to advance the feed-belts 12 to forward thebank of sheets until the top .sheets thereof again cover the notch 118,and the arm 114 impeded by the spring 119 resumes its 'vertical (Fig. 4)position to reset the shoulder 124 of the latch-arm 123 into engagementwith the lblock 125 as shown in Fig. 4. The timing'of the cams 106 and132 is such that detector finger 99 has completed its forward stroke torelease this latch-amr 123 just before the drop in the cam 132 isreached l'ao ' when the cam-roller 131 is free thereafter to fallintosuch drop preparatory to the forward feed of the bank 13.

My improved form of adjustable tail lamp and pile drag which also.carries an air blast to wind the rear edges of the sheets may bearranged at different positions .-to bear on the rear margins of thebank of sheets and is shownin Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8. Extending rearwardlyfrom the tie-shaft 18 and secured thereto by set-screws 138 are twosupporting bars 139 (only one being shown for the sake of clearness)having the racks 140 cut in thelr top surfaces. Slidably mounted on thebars 139 are split supporting collars 141 having top bearings 142 inwhich is journalled the short shaft 143 which carries the gear 144enmeshing with the rack 140; the handle 145 secured to the shaft 143enables the operator to shift the collars 141 on the bars 140 in eitherdirection as required. The clampingv- 4bolt 146 threaded in the lugs 147locks theA lcollars 141 in any predetermined position- The collars 141are provided with depending brackets 148 connected by cross-shaft 149.

Supported by the shaft 149 is the carriage 150 havingspaced-apart-vertical arms 151 centrallyf slotted at 152 within whichslots 152 extends the cross-shaft 149. Secured to the shaft 149 betweenthe arms 151 is the sleeve 153 carrying the projecting upper pins 154and also the lower pins 155 to engage the opposite sides of the slots-152 to prevent an undue forward and backward movement of carriage 150,while allowing a free vertical movement of such carriage 150 to theextent of the length of such slots. The lower end Vends of which areremovably of the carriage 150 is forked and the shaft 156 is journalledtherein with the roller 157 fast tothe shaft 156 to bear by gravity uponthe bank of sheets 13 as shown inFig. 1. Pivoted to the shaft 156 oneither side of the roller 157 are laterally extended, spaced'- apartarms 158 having their forward ends formed with slotted bearings 159 inwhich are rotatably mounted bearing rol1s`160 to rest on the tail end ofthe top sheet. The arms 158 cary the inclined brackets 161 on the A*secured by set screws 162 the pipe ends 163 which are connected by hose164 with any suitable airpump not shown. Each pipe end 163 is connectedto a spaced-apart tube 165, each having an inclined nozzle 166contacting with the rear edges of the top 'sheets in alinement with thebearing rolls 160. Air from the nozzles 166`serves to inject air filmsbeneath the rear edges of the sheets to aid in their separation from thebank by the feed-sectors 34. The arms 158 are connected by the crossjbar 167 on which is mounted the forwardly projecting bracket 168carrying a cross-pin 169 on which the block 170 is rotatably secured.Passing through a hole in the block 170 is the slidable rod 171to-support the pile rod 171 has secured thereto the circular plate 172from which depend three barrels 173 each encircled by coil springs 174secured to the plate 172 and projecting beyond the barrels 17 3 withL-shaped ends 175 which bear lightly and yieldingly on the rear margins'of the top sheet as shown in Fig. 1. The

points of the spring ends 17 5 are preferably bent to extend forwardly'so as to prevent the possibility of their tearing or otherwise injuringthinor delicate paper stock. Slidably secured on the rod 171 is the ballweight 176 which may be shifted along the rod 171, and then secured inany predetermined position by the set-screw 177 to vary the pressure ofthe springs 175 on the bank 1.3 according to the weight and surfacetexture of the stock in the feeder. The position of the springs 175relatively tothe bearing rolls 160 may be varied by the nut 178 which isthreaded on the rear end of the rod 171, and which bears against thewasher 179: the coil spring 180 encircling the rod 171 between the block170 and collar 181 tends to keep this resilient pile drag mechanismextended from the block 170, while permitting the springs 175 to bepressed rearwardly if required.

The operation of my sheet-feeder is substantially as follows: When thepair of feedsecytors 34 have picked up the top sheet from the bank 13 asshown in Fig. 3, they swing forwardly in unison with the sheet under theimpulse of the coil springs 35 released from compression when thecam-roller 59 falls into the drop of the cam 60 and the rock-shaft 31 isoscillated in a clockwise direction. Whenever the leading edge of theadvanced sheet release the pawl arm 74 'which allows the pawl 75 toengage the rack 78 to immediately arrest `the forward stroke of theparticular feed-sector 34 which has been tripped, although the sleeve 32and shaft 31 complete their predetermined oscillations under theinfluence ofthe cam 60. By this mechanism the separate trip fingersdirectly control the length of the forward feed of each feedsector 34,and the leading edge of thei sheet is thereby straightened, if required,when placed in position at the bite of the feed rolls 44 and 45.

As soon as the forward movements of the separate feed-sectors 34 have`been arrested by the pawl 75 and rack 78 engagement, the rotation of thesleeve 32 causes the arm 90 to contact with the stop-pin 93 to shiftvalve 85 to the left (Fig. 3) to open the port 84 thereby also openingthe mouthpiece 40 and nozzle 41 to atmosphere which releases the hold ofthe feed-sectors 34 on the sheet now in position to be seized by thefeed rolls 44 izo and 45. When the cam-roller 59 rides out of the dropof the cam 60, the rock-shaft 31 and sleeve 32 are rocked to restore thefeedsectors 34 to their feeding position while the springs 3 5 are againput under compression for the next forward stroke; during thisretractive movement the arm 89 engages with the stop-pin 91 to shift thevalve 85. to the right (Fig. 3) to close the port 84 and place themouthpiece' 40 again under suction in readinessfor the feed-sectors totake'up the next sheet in the succeeding cycle of operations. Duringthis movement each trip-finger latch. resets itself by the arm 74passing over the tip 72 of the latch-arm as hereinbefore described, andthe trip finger 66 will again lower and rest in the grooves 68 as shownin Fig. 3 in readiness for the next advancing sheet. The timing of thecams 53 and 60 is such that the feed roll 44 will lower as the sheetreaches the feed roll 45 in the A forward feed of the sectors 34.

When-the feed-sectors v34 have separated This allows the cam-roller 131to enter' they drop of the cam 132 when the latter has rotatedsuiliciently, and in that part of the cycle the pawl 129 issimultaneously drawn backwardly over the teeth of the ratchet 16.

When the bell-crank lever 127 is rocked in an anti-clockwise directionby the roller 131 riding out of the drop of the cam 132, the ratchet 16rigidly secured to the shaft 15 Kwill ad- Vance the feed-belts toforward the bank of sheets.

Such bank-feed movement through this pawl and ratchet mechanism will berepeated with each revolution of the cam 132` j 'until the front marginsof the top sheets have been advanced to cover the notch 118 so that thedetector finger 99 no longer can swing the arm 114 forwardly in eachcycle; the spring 119 straightens the arm 114 which enables thelatch-arm123 to reset itself with the block 125 as has been heretofore described.So long as this latch is set the spring 137 is held under compressionwith the camroller 131 riding only on the dwell of the cam 132andbridging the drop therein. Such detector control and bank-feedmechanism'is very delicate and sensitive in action with the enactingrock-shoe 108 serving to smooth out the front edges ofthe sheets as theyare advanced to the feed-rolls during each forward movement of thedetector finger 99 over the front edges of the sheets.

The adjustable tail clamp and yielding pile drag device which I haveshown and described in conjunction with continuous airblasts to wind therear edges of the top sheets may be shifted forwardly and backwardlyover the feed-board 11 on the rack supporting bars 139 as heretoforedescribed. The carriage 150 with its associated parts has a freevertical movement over the bank 13 on which it bears by gravity, whilethe pins 154 and 155 preclude a canting movement inf either direction onthe roller 157 while allowing free vertical movement. Furthermore thebearing rolls 160 press yieldingly on the rear edges of the top sheetsby being mounted in the slotted bearings 159, while the air nozzles 166wind such rear'edges to ensure proper separation before the feed-sectors34 advance the top sheet to the feedrolls 44 and 45. Again distinctadvantages are attained by the spring pile drag device with the springends 175 bearing lightly on the tail ends of the sheets in that I haveprovided a mechanism for holding lthe top sheets under variable pressurewhich may be adjusted within wide limits for dierent qualities of stockby means of the ball weight 176 as well as the leverage length of thesliding supporting rod 171;

'experience has shown that. such variable spring pressure is a necessaryadjunct 'in a sheet-feeder operating at high speeds with differentgrades of paper in order to maintain the proper transverse alinement ofthe rear margins of the sheets on the feedboard 11.

The foregoing constructions embody the essential prlnciples of myinvention as embodied in a continuous sheet-feeder, butvarious changesmay be made in the structural details without departing from the scope'of' my improvements. However the foregoing is suifcient to disclose theunderlying principles and advantages of my invention as particularlyapplied to a continuous sheetfeeder.

I claim as my invention:

1.v In a sheet-feeder, a suction feed-member having suction appliedthereto at its lowermost portion and oscillatable forwardly-in avertical plane over the superposed sheets for separating and advancingsame and means including a part actuated by the' leading edge of theadvanced sheet for aresting the forward movement of said mem- 2. In a'sheet-feeder, a movable suction feed-member operating on the frontmargins of the sheets for separating and ad- 'vancingl the successivesheets, and means controlled by the advanced sheet for arresting thesheet-advancing movement of the member.

3. In a sheet-feeder, a movable suction feed-member operating on thefront margins of the sheets for separatingy and advancing `ikraaeea thesuccessive sheets, and means controlled by the leading edge of theadvanced sheet for arresting the sheet-advancing movement of the member.

4. Inra sheet-feeder, a movable suction feed-member'operating on thefront margins ofthe sheets for separating and advancing the successive.sheets, and means controlled by the advanced sheet for arresting thesheetadvancing movement of the member and means for shutting off thesuction therefrom.

5. In a sheet-feeder, a movable suction feed-member operating on thefront margins of the sheets for separating and advancing the successivesheets, and means controlled by the advanced sheet for sequentiallyarresting the movement of the member and means for shutting off thesuction therefrom.

6. In a sheet-feeder, a movable suction feed-member operating onthe'front margins I of the sheets for separating and advancing thesuccessive sheets, and means controlled v by the leading edge of theadvanced sheetv for arresting the movement of the member and means forshutting olf the suction therefrom.

7. In a sheet-feeder, a movable suction feed-member operating on thefront margins of the sheets for separating and advancing the successivesheets, and means controlled by the leading edge of the advanced sheetfor sequentially` arresting the movement of the member and means forshutting olf the suction therefrom.

8. In a sheet-feeder, a suction feed-sector having suction appliedthereto at its lowermost portion and oscillatable forwardly in avertical plane over the fanned-out front top portion of the superposedsheets for advancing the successive sheets forwardly therefrom. y 9. Ina sheet-feedena suction feed-sector having suction applied thereto atits lowermost portion and oscillatable forwardly` in a vertical planeover the -fanned-out front top portion of the superposed sheetsfor-intermittently separating and advancing the -successive sheetsforwardly therefrom.

10. In a continuous sheet-feeder, a rocking suction feed-member foradvancing the fanned-out sheets from the front margin of the bank byapplying suction thereto throughout the forward strokeof saidfeedmember.

11. In a-continuous sheet-feeder, a rocking suction feed-member .forintermittently separating and advancing the fanned-out sheets from thefront margin of'the bank by applying suction thereto throughout theforward stroke of said feed-member.

12. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board,means for advancing apile or bank ofsheets along said feed-board, and a movable suction feedmember operatingon the front margins of the sheets for intermittently separating andadvancing forwardly the successive' sheets by applying vsuction thereto.

'13. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a pile or bankof sheets along said feed-board, a movable suction' feedmember operatingon the front margins of the -sheets for intermittently separating andadvancing the successive sheets by applying suction thereto, and meanscontrolled by the advanced sheet for arresting the forward stroke of themember.

14. In a 'sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancinga pile or bankof sheets along said feed-board, a movable suction feedmember operatingon the front margins of the sheets for intermittently separating andadvancing the successive sheets by applying Asuction thereto, and meansIcontrolled by the l7. In a sheet-feeder, a pair of movable suctionfeed-members for separating and advancing the successive sheets andseparate means for each feed-member controlled by the leading edge ofthe advanced sheet for arresting its sheet-advancing movement.

18. In a sheet-feeder, a pair' of movable suction feed-members forseparating and ad vancmgthe successive Sheets and separate means foreach feed-member for independently arresting its movement and shuttingolf the suction therefrom.

19. In a sheet-feeder, a pair of movable suction feed members forseparating and ad- `vancing the successive sheets and separate means foreach feed-member for sequentially and independently arresting itsmovement and shutting off the suction therefrom.

20. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a movable suction feed-memberarranged above the support to advance the sheets, means for applyingsuction to the member, and means for shutting off the suction after thesheet has been advanced to its foremost position by said member;y

21. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a movable suction feed-memberarranged above the support to advance the sheets, means for applyingsuction to the member. and latchcontrolled meansfor shutting oil' thesuction after the sheet has been advanced to its foremost position bysaid sector.

22. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a

movable suction feed-member arranged above most position bysaid member,and a trip linger actuated by the advanced sheet to release saidlatch-controlled means.

23. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a pair ofvmo'vable suctionfeed-members a1'- r'anged above the support to advance the sheets, meansfor applying suction to each member, and separate means forindependently shutting off the suction from either member` after thesheet has been advanced to its foremost position by said sectors.

24. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a pair of movable suctionfeed-members arranged above the support to advance the sheets, means forapplying suction to each member, and separate Ameans controlled by theadvanced sheet for independently arresting the forward stroke of eithermember at any part of its movement and sequentially means for shutting0H the suction from either member.

25.- In a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail clamp and an oscillatable piledrag having resilient members/having points bearing on the sheets.

26.( In.a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail clamp, an associated air blastimpinging on the rear edges of the sheets and an f ,cillatable pile draghaving resilient members having points bearing on the sheets. j

27. In a sheet-feeder, a. gravity tail 'clamp and an oscillatable pi edrag having resilient members having points bearing on the sheets, andmeans'for shifting said devices longitudinally of the feeder.

28. In a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail clamp and an oscillatable piledrag having resilient members having points bearing on the sheets, andmeans for shifting said devices as a unit longitudinally of the feeder.

29. In a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail clamp and an oscillatable piledrag having resilient members having points bearing on the sheets, meansfor shifting said dev1ces longitudi nally of the feeder, and means forlocking said shifting means in any predetermined position.

30. In a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail clamp and an oscillatable piledrag having resilient members having points bearing on the sheets, meansfor shifting said devices as a unit longitudinally of the feeder andmeans for locking said shifting means in any predetermined position.

31. In a sheet-feeder, a pile drag adjustably mounted to rest yieldinglyon a fanned.A out bank of sheets and provided with a plu,

rality of vertically disposed spring members having points bearing onthe top sheets.

32. In a sheet-feeder, a pile'drag adjustably mounted to rest yieldinglyon a fannedout bank of sheets and provided with a plurality ofvertically disposed spring members having points bearings on the topsheets and means for variably adjusting the pressure of said springmembers on the sheets.

, 33. In a. sheet-feeder, a pile. drag adjustably mounted to restyieldingly on a fannedout bank of sheets and provided with a pluralityof vertically disposed springl members bearing on the top sheets,andmeans independent of said spring members for variably adjusting thepressure of said spring members on the sheets.

34. In a sheet-feeder, a pile drag adjustably mounted to rest yieldinglyon a fannedout bank of sheets and provided with a plurality ofvertically disposed spring members bearing on the top sheets, and meansfor variably and collectively adjusting the pressure of said springmembers on the sheets.

35. In a sheet-feeder, a pile drag adjustj ably mounted to restyieldingly on alfannedout bank ofsheets and provided with a plurality ofvertically disposed spring members bearing on the top sheets, and meansindependent of said spring members for variably and collectivelyadjusting the pressure of said spring members on the sheets.

36. In a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail-clamp resting on the bank offanned-out sheets and' an air blast arranged adjacent to the clamp towind the rear edges of the sheets.

37. In a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail-clamp resting on the bank offanned-out sheets and an air blast arranged adjacent to the clamp and inalignment therewith, to wind the rear edges of the sheets.

38. In a sheet-feeder, a gravity tail-clamp freely movable in a verticaldirection, and means carried thereby to prevent a canting movementlongitudinally of the feeder in either direction.

39. In a sheet-feeder, a1 movable suction feed-member, means includinga. trip controlled by the advancing sheet for arresting the forwardmovement of the member said means having a part to raise the trip fromthe advanced sheet.

40. Ina sheet-feeder, an oscillatable suc# tion feed-member, havingsuction applied thereto at its lowermost portion for both separating andadvancing the sheets, a trip actuated by the leading edge ofthe advancedsheet for arresting the forward movement of said member, and means forraising the trip from said sheet.

41. In a' sheet-feeder, anoscillatable suction feed-member", havingsuction applied thereto at its lowermost portion for both separating andadvancing the sheets, a trip actuated by the leading edge of theadvanced sheet for arresting the forward movement of said member, andmeans for thereafter raising the trip from said sheet. j

42. In a'sheet-feeder, a vertically reciprol cating suction feed memberfor separating and advancing the fanned-out 'sheets forwardly from thefront portion of the bank.

43. In a, sheet-feeder, a reciprocating suction feed member foseparating and advancing the fanned-out sheets from the front portion ofthe bank and means controlled by the tion feed member for separating andadvancing the fanned-out sheets from the front portion of the bank andmeans including a sheetoperated trip for arresting the sheet-advancingmovement of said member at any point during said movement.

47. 'In a sheet-feeder, sheet-controlled suction means oscillatable in avertical plane over the front top portion of the superposed sheets forseparating and advancing same.

48. A sheet feeding machine having; in combination, suction members forseparating and advancing the top sheet, and cutouts operated by thefront edge of the sheet to arr)est the advance of the sheet by saidmemers. f

49. In asheet feeder, a'sheet support, a pair of movable -suction feedmembers arranged above the. support to separate and advance the sheets,means for applying suction to each member, separate means controlled bythe advanced sheet for independently arresting the forward. stroke ofeither member on any part of its movement, and

' means for shutting ofl" the suction from the members.

50. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, suction members forseparating and advancing the top sheet, driving means necting thedriving means with the suction l members, and means interposed inthepath of movement of the advancing sheet for arresting themovement of themembers.

51. A feedingy mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pilecomprising an oscillating feeder through which a suctional force isexerted on the topmost sheet, suction means connected. with theoscillating feeder and controlled by the fed-off sheet and means forswinging said feeder back and forth about a stationary axis. v

52. A feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pilecomprising a ing a series of openings through which a suc- 'tional forceis adapted to be exerted, a stationary mmber having an opening withwhich saidl first-named openings are adapted to register successivel andmeans for movin said member forwar ly to feed a sheet an then backthrough the same path.

' 53. In a feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pile,a feeder member movable back and forth, the return movement beingthrough the same path as the forward movement, and having aplurality ofopenings through which a lsuctional force is adapted to be exerted onthe top-most sheet, suction means operatively connected to th'e feedermember, means for alternately moving said feeder member forwardly andrearwardly, and means for causing the suction means to be renderedineffective during thel rearward movements of the feeder member.

54. In a sheet feeding mechanism, an oscillatory feeder member, meansfor actuating the same so as to. give it alternately a forward feedingmovement and a return movement, suction means operatively connected withthe feeder member about a stationary axis, and means for rendering thesuction means ineffective during the Vreturn stroke of the feedermember.

55.l A sheet feeding mechanism comprising an oscillatory feeder memberhaving a plurality of openings through which a suctional force isadapted to be exerted on the sheet to be moved, means for actuating saidfeeder member so as to .give it alternate feeding and return strokesabout a fixed axis, means including a part operatively connected to thefeeder so that suctional force is successively exerted Von the sheetthrough the different openings, and means for rendering the suctionmeans ineffective duringv each return stroke of the feeder member.

56. In a sheet-feeder, an oscillatable. suction feed-member havingsuction applied thereto at its lowermost ortion for,` bothsepvarating-and advancing t e sheets and a trip actuated by the leadingedge of the advanced sheet for arresting the forward movement of sa1dmember. for the suction members, yielding means conmember swinging on afixed axis for separating and advancing the sheets, a single mechanismfor actuating said member in both directions, and means controlled bythe adlio L A vanced sheet for disengaging said member from saidmechanism during the sheet-advancing movement of said member.

60. In a sheet-feeder, an oscillatable feedmember swinging on a xed axisfor separating and advancing the sheets, a single mechanism foractuating said member m both directions, and-means controlled by theadvanced sheet for disengaging said member from said mechanism duringthe sheet-advancingmovement of said member'but allowing an automaticengagement on the reverse y movement of saidmember.

HARRY EHLIG.

